Robbie, looking reluctant but resigned, sighed. "I guess," he muttered, setting down his tools.

"Thanks," Vas said, his tone shifting back to business.

As the tension in the room started to ease, Zola, who had been listening intently, spoke up, her voice soft. "So... Doctor Elliot, you're the founder of a secret society?"

Elliot offered her a slight smile. "Yes, I am, Miss Zola Okafor. And I'd appreciate it if you kept this information from your mother."

Zola chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. As long as you're not causing too much trouble or making human sacrifices, she won't care."

Elliot's smile grew warmer. "Good to know. And I hear you've been helping Vas with his tasks?"

"Yeah, I'm helping," Zola said, glancing at Vas.

"I'm glad to hear it," Elliot replied. "It's good to see he's got support."

Zola looked thoughtful. "So, why can't you talk about...?" she started to ask, but Elliot cut her off.

"You can't either. Not unless you're speaking directly to him," Elliot said firmly. "It's a strong prohibition placed on any mention of the subject. There are ways around it, but it's not easy."

Zola nodded in understanding, glancing at Vas as if silently asking how deep the secrets went.

Sarah, however, wasn't so easily dissuaded. "Why can he talk about it?" she demanded, pointing at Vas.

Zola grinned, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Perks of the last name, I guess."

Meanwhile, the tattooing process had begun. Robbie's hands moved with precision, his focus sharp as the nanobyte ink, now infused with a Specter's Anima, flowed into Vas's skin. The intricate design they had discussed started to take shape—fluid, elegant, like veins of light weaving across his back and right hand. It was a painstaking process, one that stretched across hours, but every stroke carried purpose.

As the needle worked its way across Vas's skin, he began to feel the spirit's presence more strongly. Images flashed in his mind—a silent figure drifting through the shadows of the world, moving unseen, yet ever-present. Audron.

"Ah, now you see," Morrigan's voice whispered in his mind, always watching. "Audron. A Specter born from the echoes of life forces that once roamed this world. Its essence is one of renewal, not destruction. Healing, soothing, restoring what has been lost."

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

Vas's breath deepened as more of the spirit's essence flowed into the ink, bonding with him through the pain of the needle. He could feel the quiet power of the Specter settling in—a force that mended, that pieced together the broken threads of life.

"That's why it was at the cemetery," Morrigan continued, her voice soft but clear.

"Gathering the lingering vitality of those who've passed on. Audron moves like a whisper, restoring what is forgotten. It's a spirit of recovery, of subtlety, and it will serve you well."

Vas clenched his jaw as the process neared completion, each line of the tattoo burning with the spirit's presence. The pain was immense, but with it came power—a bond between him and Audron, forged through both the ink and the echoes of life it carried.

By the time the tattoo was finished, Vas felt a new sense of clarity, as if part of him had been stitched together, renewed. Robbie stepped back, admiring his work.

"It's done," Robbie said, a mix of pride and exhaustion in his voice.

Vas sat up slowly, feeling the weight of the new bond. "Audron's in," he said quietly, more to himself than to anyone else.

Zola watched him, concern mixed with curiosity on her face. "How do you feel?"

"Different," Vas replied, flexing his hand, now marked with the intricate design that pulsed faintly with energy. "But stronger."

"What's your next step?" Elliot asked, his eyes narrowing with curiosity as he watched Vas gather his things.

"I need to look into some stuff," Vas said, his tone casual but with an underlying edge of determination.

"Like what?" Sarah chimed in, curious but wary.

"Are you talking about the phenomenon we encountered not too long ago? You know, about the half-Forgotten stuff?" Zola asked, her brow furrowing as she recalled the strange event.

"Yeah, pretty much," Vas confirmed.

Elliot frowned, sensing something off. "Half-Forgotten?"

Vas shrugged, trying to find the right words. "Yeah, not sure how else to describe it. A couple of nights ago, we were transported to an abandoned storehouse. We were attacked by beings that used to be human but now... they resemble the Forgotten. Also, there were these strange little tablets. When someone absorbed them, they turned into those things too."

"That sounds... concerning," Elliot said slowly, a deep line forming between his brows. He turned to Sarah and Robbie. "Have either of you two heard anything about this?"

"No," Sarah replied, shaking her head. "But we can ask around."

"I'll do some digging too," Robbie added. He paused before glancing at Elliot, a hint of anticipation in his voice. "If I do... do you think I'll finally get an Archetype?"

Elliot considered him for a moment. "If you successfully assist Vas with this, I'll help you get one. And for you, Sarah, you'll advance in your own Archetype."

"Good," Vas said, nodding in approval. "Then I'll be waiting for your response." He stood and began pulling on his shirt.

"Wait!" Robbie called out, eyes wide with alarm. "If you get dressed now, you'll hurt yourself!"

"Oh, about the tattoo being an open wound?" Vas asked with a casual smile. "It's healed."

"What?" Robbie blinked in surprise. "How?"

Vas shrugged, clearly enjoying the reaction. "Who knows?" he said with a grin. "Talk to you all later." He glanced at Zola. "Zola, let me take you home."

As they began to leave, the room was left in quiet awe, Vas's calm attitude contrasting sharply with the weight of what had just transpired.

Elliot watched Vas leave, waiting until he was out of sight before turning back to Sarah and Robbie. "I'll leave the asking around to you two," he said. "I've got something to take care of."